6:07New York Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani serves meals during a Veteran’s Day event at Volunteers of America – Commonwealth Veterans’ Residence on Nov. 11, 2025, in the Soundview neighborhood of the Bronx borough in New York.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Zohran Mamdani, the incoming chief executive of New York City, has engaged in discussions with various Democratic governors — seeking their guidance on navigating specific aspects of governance and effectively managing interactions with President Donald Trump, according to multiple sources familiar with the dialogues who spoke to ABC News.
Mamdani has conferred with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro in recent times, these sources noted — with these exchanges transpiring as recently as this week. Each of these governors has had confrontations with the president.
New York Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani serves meals during a Veteran’s Day event at Volunteers of America – Commonwealth Veterans’ Residence on Nov. 11, 2025, in the Soundview neighborhood of the Bronx borough in New York.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Mamdani and Pritzker deliberated on strategies for dealing with Trump, Pritzker's firsthand knowledge of the president's endeavor to dispatch armed forces to Chicago, and contingency plans in case a parallel intervention materializes in New York City.
Trump has asserted that cities governed by Democrats, such as New York and Chicago, are in “dire straits,” and has vowed to “remedy their situations, one after the other.” Via his social media outlet on Tuesday evening, Trump communicated that his administration will “intensify” endeavors to suppress criminality in Chicago.
Trump has remarked that Pritzker, who has resisted Trump’s actions, “should face imprisonment for neglecting the security of ICE officers!” given that he and Chicago Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson are contesting Trump’s aspiration to mobilize the National Guard.
“Proceed to apprehend me,” Pritzker retorted on ABC’s This Week recently, in response to Trump.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker arrives for a news conference, Oct. 6, 2025, in Chicago.Scott Olson/Getty Images
Pritzker also played a significant part in aiding Texas state Democrats during their attempt to thwart Republicans' initial effort to redraw congressional districts during the decade.
According to informants with knowledge of the exchange, Mamdani and Pritzker further addressed their dedication to emphasizing affordability.
During his discourse with Moore on election night, Mamdani commended Moore’s initiatives to streamline bureaucratic processes and discussed progressive approaches within governance. The pair also considered methods for resisting Trump, as per sources briefed on the conversation.
Moore has previously lauded Mamdani’s campaign communication regarding affordability, expressing that it is reminiscent of aspects of his own agenda in Maryland. Before the government’s resumption of operations, Moore revealed the allocation of $62 million to guarantee comprehensive November SNAP benefits for Maryland residents and specifically criticized Trump and his administration for abandoning his constituents.
“Nevertheless, no individual state possesses the capacity to bridge the immense divide caused by Donald Trump and his administration,” Moore conveyed in a formal declaration.
In this June 19, 2025, file photo, Governor Wes Moore holds a press conference at Salvation Army Annapolis Corps with energy company partners to announce an initiative to help lower energy costs for Marylanders.Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun via TNS via Getty Images, FILE
Trump has reproached Moore, asserting in a post on his social media platform earlier this year that his "track record concerning Crime is notably unfavorable."
Axios was the first outlet to publicize the calls with Pritzker and Moore.
Mamdani’s dialogue with Shapiro took place before the recent election.
Shapiromentioned to Semafor that he engaged in a “beneficial exchange” with Mamdani and resolved any uncertainties concerning their disagreements, following Shapiro’s earlier criticism in July of Mamdani’s campaign, alleging it afforded “excessive leeway for extremists.”
Campaign insiders with familiarity of the conversation stated that Shapiro and Mamdani also examined the significance of facilitating regulatory improvements and rehabilitating Interstate 87, a key national thoroughfare traversing New York.
In Aug. 26, 2025, file photo, Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks during an event at the Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia.Joe Lamberti/Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE
Shapiro has been critical of the White House’s handling of the government closure, notably regarding the re-implementation of SNAP advantages within his jurisdiction.
Trump labeled Shapiro as “significantly overrated” in a post on social media.
Mamdani has stated his intention to continue proactively engaging in phone conversations.
During an interview with NBC 4 New York, Mamdani indicated he would engage with the White House prior to assuming office “because this relationship will be vitally important to the prosperity of this city.”
A day following the election, Trump, subsequent to denouncing Mamdani as a “communist” — a description Mamdani, who self-identifies as a Democratic socialist, has refuted — conveyed his willingness to offer Mamdani assistance “to a small degree, perhaps.”
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
